Colorful dreams. Tracy Brewer opens art gallery at Oakwood Square in Plain Township

PLAIN TWP. ? The colorful and artsy facade of the Brewtifully art gallery and boutique only teases at what's inside.

Pushing the door open, a visitor's senses immediately go into overdrive, swept up by the eclectic and tasteful mix of artwork and gifts. Paintings, wallets made of vegan leather, books featuring augmented reality, clothing, yard flags, magnets, stickers, purses, rugs, pottery, pet scarves, art kits, night lights made and shaped of acetate.

Welcome to Brewtifully, the new art-forward shop at Oakwood Square shopping plaza, 2698 Easton St. NE. Opened by Stark County-based artist Tracy Dawn Brewer, it's her artistic vision becoming reality.

"It's very surreal," she said of opening the gallery. "I'm beyond grateful to do this. It's been a dream for decades."

Plain Township officials will hold a ribbon cutting event at 4 p.m. Thursday at Brewtifully. The public is invited.

Brewtifully is open 5-9 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon-9 p.m. Saturday; and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Art classes and workshops offered for all ages

Taking a financial risk and securing the right spot for the new business, Brewer said she is committed to giving Plain Township what she believes it needs and deserves ? a place not only to shop for art but also a gallery where rotating artists both near and far can showcase their work in a pop-up gallery.

"I was just going to figure out a way to make it happen," she said of the gallery and boutique. "The more I was sharing with people what I was doing the more excited they got ? it motivated me a ton.

"This was meant to happen, this was meant to be."

And she's done it all while holding a full-time job in marketing outside the art world and having a full life with a husband, children and grandchildren.

"You can't be too old to start pursuing what you love," said Brewer, 54, jabbing the air with a finger for emphasis. "Start it, do it, don't wait."

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A wall near the entrance will showcase a guest artist monthly.

Brewer is open to all art forms ? sculpture, painting, assemblage, collage art, clothing and more. Even canned and pickled vegetables, vintage art and wood-burned pieces.

"It can be anything," she said. "Maybe someone does beautiful pieces of furniture. Maybe someone is a musician and they have a beautiful guitar collection and their guitars can be on display. And they can teach guitar lessons that month."

Brewtifully also offers make-and-take art kits and art classes, including for knitting, photography and other mediums. Upcoming workshops and family events include "Frightful Fiber Fun ? Friday the 13th Punch Needle Pouch Craft Night" from 6-8 p.m. on Friday. "The Art of a Brewtiful Bonsai" will be 6-8 p.m. Saturday for ages 11 and older.

Classes also will have Halloween themes, including "Ghostly Painted Canvas with Augmented Reality Twist" on Sept. 24, open to all ages. And "Autumn Artistry ? Paint a forever pumpkin night" on Sept. 25.

Local photographer Jude Anderson of LovelyInk Creative will lead a "Click and Capture ? Photography 101" class on Oct. 15 for ages 11 and older.

For more information, a schedule of classes, class fees and featured artists, go to www.tracydawnbrewer.com.

"I think it's important to have a space that everyone feels comfortable expressing their level of creativity," Brewer said.

'Autonomy is huge in art.'

Brewer fell in love with art when she drew a picture of Santa and reindeer for a class project in the second grade at a school in the Hocking Hills area, where she grew up.

"I was hooked," the Plain Township resident recalled. "My teacher didn't dictate anything. Santa didn't have to be a certain shape, the reindeer didn't have to be a certain color. Whatever I wanted to draw was acceptable.

"I love that," Brewer added. "Autonomy is huge in art, and it's so important because it gives you the ability to have a voice in what you're creating. I don't think people get honored for their individuality enough, and that's something I want to do (at the gallery)."

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Brewer couldn't be blamed if she simply displayed and sold her own art pieces. Her work is featured at the Akron-Canton Airport, Belden Village Mall and in downtown Canton. Her art is also for sale at the Visit Canton Welcome Center at the Hall of Fame Village.

Projects also include being among the artists chosen for the new Mural Fest event in downtown Canton. She also hosts a podcast, "Brewtifully Made," featuring interviews with artists from across the country and discussions about their creative process and insights into the business of art. The podcast also has a doodle prompt, with the final piece displayed on her YouTube channel.

She's dividing the gallery 60% to 40% between her own work and that of other artists.

Brewer's own art includes acrylic paintings and augmented reality, as well as imagery applied to clothing and other items. Eye-catching pieces in the gallery include a large multi-color, disco ball turned football, which she painted during the Pro Football Hall of Fame-themed First Friday event in downtown Canton in early August.

Another original is a dollhouse she constructed from repurposed materials, which displays art supplies for sale.

"Tracy is a true artist," said Alex Minturn, a local artist who owns Alexander's Art House in Canton. "She inspires me to be a better artist and to give 200% into the work. She lives and breaths her passion. Her personality shines through in her vibrant work."

And "she has transferred that love of art into her incredible gallery and workshop space."

Brewer treats the entire physical space as a 2,100-square-foot open canvas. She thoughtfully designed the interior, sectioning the boutique into orderly areas of merchandise and artwork. Even toilet seats in the bathroom are splashed with imaginative art.

It's a striking transformation for a space that was formerly the Stark County Democratic Party's headquarters.

"My first impression was that I had walked into creativity," Minturn said of Brewtifully. "I wanted to participate. It wasn't just about making art. It felt fresh because it was stimulating, engaging and interactive."

Party room available for rental

Written across a wall is a phrase she believes in: "A little weird is good."

A back party room is vibrantly decorated with painted flowers, butterflies, robots and cosmic imagery. The room seats 20 people and is available to rent for parties, meetings and community functions.

"You can't escape art," Brewer said of the gallery and shop. "I'm not letting a space go without art. All the way to the bathroom."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and [email protected]. On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Oakwood Square in Plain Township welcomes Brewtifully art boutique